The Republic of South Korea Air Force aerobatic team, Black Eagles, wowed spectators with their dazzling maneuvers at the Langkawi International Air and Maritime Exhibition 2023 (Lima ’23).
Eight T-50B jets soared through the sky performing various aerobatic maneuvers, including its signature move, the diamond formation.
Lima 2023 marked the second appearance of Black Eagle, which took part for the first time in the Lima air show in 2017.
Held from May 23-27, 2023 at Langkawi, Malaysia, the biennial event is one of the largest maritime and aerospace exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region.
Malaysia has placed an order for 18 units of FA-50 light combat aircraft from South Korea valued at RM3.84 billion (USD830.3 million)
The procurement agreement was formally signed between the Malaysian Ministry of Defence and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) on Feb 24 this year.
The 18 units of FA-50 Block 20 Fighter-Lead-In-Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) will replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) fleet of 12 BAE Systems Hawk 108 trainer jets and Hawk 208 light-attack jets acquired in 1994.
Deliveries of these aircraft in batches are expected from Oct 2026 – Aug 2027.
In addition to the Black Eagles, the Lima ’23 air show also featured other performances, including demonstrations from the Indonesian Air Force’s Jupiter Acrobatic Team (KT-1B), the Russian Air Force’s Russian Knights (Su-30SM), the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force’s August 1st (J-10C) and the United Arab Emirates Air Force’s Al Fursan (MB 339).
